Young footballer Emanuel Ortega has died from head injuries after crashing into a concrete wall during a match in Argentina.

The 21-year-old, who played for San Martin de Burzaco, fell head first into the wall, which was located a metre from the touchline, after trying to fend off opponent Juventud Unida.

According to Argentine news agency Clarin, the youngster lost his life in hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning, two weeks after the incident in the fifth-tier match.

Ortega underwent an emergency operation on a double skull fracture last week.